The venue for the British Blood Transfusion Society (BBTS) 27th Annual Scientific Meeting was Manchester Central, situated on the site of St Peter’s Field, the city’s original 19th-century meeting place. Central Station was opened on this site in July 1880 and operated for almost 90 years before becoming surplus to requirements. As a Grade II listed building, it was eventually converted to the exhibition space known as the Greater Manchester Exhibition and Event Centre (GMEX) in 1986, but it recently reverted to its original name – Manchester Central.
This historical part of the city centre is now home to Manchester’s modern gathering place and offered BBTS delegates a dynamic city centre venue, complete with legendary Mancunian friendliness and a guaranteed enthusiastic welcome. Held over three days in September, the BBTS 2009 meeting provided an invigorating mix of topics ranging from the latest research in the blood centres to practical bedside transfusion and its complications. On this third visit to Manchester, BBTS President Geoff Daniels promised delegates “a full and exciting conference with something of interest for everyone with an interest in transfusion” and presentations by experts in their fields.
The scientific programme included dedicated Special Interest Group (SIG) sessions comprising lectures on genetic testing, stem cells, paediatric and neonatal transfusion and massive blood loss, as well as a heated debate on the use of special blood components. Plenary sessions included managing the blood supply in the developed and the less-developed world, transfusion policies in major trauma in civilian and military arenas, plus problems posed by transplantation and malaria.
Scientific highlights
The BBTS 2009 scientific programme featured over 100 different transfusion-related lecture topics during the three days of the event, as well as simultaneous oral presentations and poster sessions. Highlights included a presentation by 2009 Kenneth Goldsmith Award winner Dr Brian McClelland, who gave a fascinating talk on ‘What You Always Wanted to Know About Transfusion, But Never Dared to Ask’. This examined how attitudes to blood transfusion are still largely founded on historical beliefs and conventional wisdom, suggesting that there remains much work to be done in relation to benefit and risk to patient outcomes.
James Blundell Award winner Professor Anneke Brand from The Netherlands examined the immunological effects of blood transfusion, which can be both beneficial and detrimental to the recipient and poses many future challenges. Several presentations focused on the topical problem of maintaining the future blood supply and on donor recruitment issues, which will become a serious problem not just for NHS Blood and transplant (NHSBT) but worldwide, particularly in developing countries.
Paediatric and neonatal transfusion was also a hot topic, with presentations examining platelet transfusions to infants and the dilemmas of transfusing fresh frozen plasma to neonates, areas still poorly understood, which have wide variations in clinical practice and consequently are difficult to manage.
Encouraging the work and participation of young transfusion scientists has always been a key aim of BBTS and this year’s Margaret Kenwright Young Scientists’ Symposium was no exception. Over the years, BBTS has perpetuated the name of Margaret Kenwright, who devoted so much of her life to teaching young scientists the importance of good practice in transfusion science, through an award that has been given annually since 1998. This year’s entrants delivered oral presentations on topics that included trauma haemorrhage, transfusion of stored red cells and aspects of the platelet supply chain. Finally, no trip to the BBTS meeting is complete without a tour around the poster sessions. This year there were 57 entries in five categories – Transfusion Practice, Microbiology, Stem Cells, Donors and Donation and Components.
Trading places
Fundamental to a successful conference is a lively and well-supported exhibition, and BBTS 2009 attracted 47 companies featuring many of the leading names in the field of transfusion science and diagnostics. Over the years, BBTS has enjoyed excellent support from its corporate members and its exhibitions offer delegates an excellent opportunity to network and gain hands-on experience of the latest diagnostic offerings on show. Additionally representatives from RAF Medical Services, SHOT, the Bio Products Laboratory, NHSBT and BBTS ensured delegates had a wealth of expert opinion to call on for transfusion- related knowledge and queries.
Throughout this year’s conference, one exhibitor, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics (OCD), raised money for a local Manchester hospital – the Christie NHS Foundation Trust. Eike Stohlmann, OCD’s marketing manager, transfusion medicine, northern Europe, explained: “Sadly, the number of people affected by cancer continues to rise each year, but thanks to modern treatments pioneered by hospitals like the Christie the number of patients making a complete recovery is growing and long-term survival rates are increasing.
“We asked delegates and other healthcare professionals visiting the OCD stand to complete a mini survey, following which OCD made a contribution of £5 per completed form to support the Christie’s work. In addition, our parent company, Johnson & Johnson, donated an equal amount. We hope that the support we received from BBTS delegates will help the Christie charity to fund projects and equipment outside the scope of the NHS to improve treatment and care for its patients.”
Delegate’s verdict
Julie Philp, a specialist biomedical scientist in the haematology and blood transfusion department at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, initially was unsure if she would be able to attend BBTS Manchester, as she explained: “I have been employed by the trust for the past seven years but, due to the current financial restrictions most NHS organisations are facing, it is not easy to obtain the funding to attend any external courses currently offered to biomedical scientists.
“Consequently, it is very difficult for staff to develop and progress in their careers. However, I was able to attend the one-day UK NEQAS (BTLP) and BBTS Blood Bank Technology SIG meeting in November 2008 and became aware that BBTS offered bursaries to junior staff in order to attend the annual meeting. So, when details were released earlier this year regarding BBTS 2009 in Manchester, I decided to apply and was fortunate enough to be granted a bursary to attend the entire meeting.
“The application process was very straightforward. I was required to complete a short application form and I wrote a supporting statement giving reasons why I was applying. My employer also added a short supporting statement for my application. All applications had to be submitted by the end of May. The value of the bursary allows awardees to claim up to four nights' accommodation in a hotel close to the conference venue, full attendance at the annual scientific meeting, including all social events and the gala ball award dinner on the last night, all meals and up to £100 towards travel expenses.
“I consider that the bursaries are an excellent way of allowing lower-paid members of transfusion staff the opportunity of experiencing something that is more likely to be attended by departmental heads. The meeting was very informative, and lectures and presentations were given on a variety of blood transfusion topics such as research, tissue banking and component usage, so there was something for everyone.
“The sessions I found most interesting were on stem cells, Modernising Scientific Careers and dealing with massive blood loss. My current area of work does not involve use of stem cells and, coming from a microbiology background, I have not studied this area previously so it was interesting to hear how scientists are using stem cells in transplantation and are developing new ways to produce red cells. Also, I had read about the government’s plan to modernise scientific careers in the NHS but I did not know how it aimed to achieve this or what the process involved, so it was a welcome opportunity to discover more details and how I may be affected in the future.
“I found the massive blood loss session interesting because I am currently undertaking an audit of patients who have received a massive transfusion at my own hospital, so it was useful to discover how clinicians from other NHS hospitals and even in military circles do this.
“Each evening a social event was arranged which allowed delegates to unwind and get to know other people attending the meeting. The commercial exhibition supplied food and refreshments, and a quiz night and gala ball were also arranged. Not only did I acquire a great deal of information that I can pass on to my colleagues in the laboratory, but I also met other bursary winners from a variety of professional backgrounds in the UK and overseas, with whom I aim to keep in contact.
“It was also interesting to speak with people working in other NHS trusts to hear how they are dealing with the various common problems we face working in the laboratory environment. Finally, I would like to thank the BBTS for giving me the opportunity to attend this year’s meeting and for making it such an enjoyable experience. I would strongly recommend that other colleagues consider applying for a bursary to attend BBTS meetings in the future.”
See you in Bournemouth?
The BBTS 2009 visit to Manchester undoubtedly was a great success and ensured delegates left the meeting with much to think about in terms of transfusion-related matters, latest expert opinions and diagnostic advice. As Catherine Riley, BBTS events manager, concluded: “BBTS 2009 achieved the highest numbers of delegates since Southampton in 1994. We were all extremely heartened by this level of support, bearing in mind the current economic climate. From the feedback I have received, my colleague Matthew Lambert, exhibition manager from Maelstrom Event Solutions, and I were extremely pleased with the response from the exhibition.
“From delegate feedback received, it would appear that Manchester is rated highly as it is fairly central and has excellent travel connections. As a result, we enjoyed a much higher number of day delegates this year. The social programme feedback was equally positive, with the Friday night offering a fast and furious quiz and a Beatles tribute band, which proved very popular. The gala dinner and awards ceremony on Saturday night was held in a deconsecrated monastery only minutes from the city centre, and the Manchester weather was just perfect for the pre-dinner drinks in the Cloister gardens.
“Plans are already underway for next year’s conference, to be held at the Bournemouth International Conference Centre on 9–11 September. Bournemouth provides an excellent backdrop for education and fun, as well as catering for the needs of the exhibitors. Transfusion medicine never stands still and we intend to keep up with the latest information and provide sessions that meet all the requirements of the ever-challenging and evolving areas, not forgetting the basics. So, miss it at your peril!”